Cycling: Two idols of the Olympic cross-country discipline have announced their participation for the ninth edition of the Cyprus Sunshine Cup in February. Gunn-Rita Dahle-Flesjaa of Norway and Germany's Manuel Fumic have added the Afxentia stage race to their schedule.
Gunn-Rita Dahle-Flesjaa, the most successful cross-country and marathon racer of all time, has decided to repeat what she first did before last season. The 41-year-old, nine-time world champion, made her debut in Cyprus in 2014 - at least as far as training and participation in the Cyprus Sunshine Cup are concerned.
Obviously the biker from the Multivan-Merida Biking Team enjoyed her stay and from her point of view it was successful. “Cyprus has been good for me this year and it will be a good pre-season for 2015 as well. In my opinion, Cyprus allows for good training and it is a friendly island”, explains Gunn-Rita Dahle-Flesjaa, "pleasant people, good food, nice hospitality and in February much more sun than at home."
Next year Cyprus and the Cyprus Sunshine Cup should also help her prepare for the Cape Epic in South Africa, which she plans to contest for the first time in March.
Manuel Fumic has also put the Cyprus Sunshine Cup on his competition schedule. The 2013 vice world champion and three-time Olympic participant missed his start in the Afxentia stage race this year. The Cannondale pilot flew to the Mediterranean island, but was ill and had to return home without having achieved anything.
“I want to have a race before I compete in the races in the USA. The Afxentia gives me the chance to get used to the competitive mode. In my experience, I'll meet many strong riders in Cyprus who are already in good form. At the same time, I'm naturally interested in the world ranking points I can gain at the SHC-listed race,” Manuel Fumic explained in a statement regarding his reasons for starting in Cyprus.